Father Wilson. the resurrection

Transcription

1 St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral 650 Hanover Street Manchester, New Hampshire Tel Fax A P R I L As We PrePAre for the resurrection For many of us, our earliest religious memories are those of Holy Week's solemn services and rituals. Despite their solemnity, these recollections are always fascinating, and remind us of what a Christian is: a person who follows the One who has known acclaim, abandonment, defeat, crucifixion, and finally, the silence of the tomb. But even the finality of that tomb could not silence Him. It is a week that begins with the resurrection of Lazarus, and Palm Sunday, with its passing moments of popular success, waving palms, and shouted hosannas. It continues with the Last Supper, in which Christ revealed the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing that is the Eucharist or Holy Communion. It continues with the drama of a night of prayer ending in the betraying kiss of a friend, and in arrest and humiliation, and seems to end with Good Friday with its torture, its mother's tears, a shameful death, and the frightening silence that followed. Holy Week, in its yearly and faithful enactment, teaches us that Christ's love for us could not be crushed. The message which He shared could not be stilled. The large stone could not contain Him in the terrible darkness of that tomb. Jesus Christ also rose from the dead. And together with Him, there arose every hope that we have for mercy, strength, perseverance, and everlasting life. Holy Week is the sacred time during which these memories become present in the liturgies and the sacraments of the Church, and in the practices and the rituals of our homes, passed down to us by our grandparents, our parents, our priests and our teachers in the faith from the beginning until our own day. This is the week in which the life-giving events in the saving ministry of Jesus Christ become real for each of us. It is the week during which Christ turns to us in a real way and says to us, "Come and follow me." He invites us to consecrate our own individual pain and suffering in obedience to God, and to share with Him in the great victory over death which He won for us all. To Him may there be glory forever. In just a few weeks we will begin our journey through Holy Week the most beautiful and inspiring time of year in the tradition of our Church. Again we will follow Jesus of Nazareth as He journeys to raise from the dead His friend Lazarus. We will see the Gates of Jerusalem off at a distance awaiting anxiously the arrival of Jesus. We will again hear the people proclaim Him King. In anguish, we will witness one of His followers, Judas, betray Him. In horror, we will watch as the Roman soldiers hammer nails into His hands and feet the hands and feet of their Creator. His blood will stain the earth. The angels, forbidden to help, will watch in anguish. When He gives up His spirit, the earth will quake in torment, as the clouds wash His body with their tears. For three days, the world will be still. But, on the third day, Jesus of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem, crucified in Jerusalem, the Son of God, will rise from the dead. His Resurrection offers us Salvation. Please join us as we relive these last days of Jesus Christ in His earthly ministry and attend as many of the Holy Week services as you can. Prepare, through fasting, prayer, and confession to have your sins forgiven and bodily afflictions healed through the Sacrament of Holy Unction and unite with the Lord and Savior through the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Triumphantly proclaim His Resurrection! Let us put aside our responsibilities and worldly cares and any differences that may hinder us. Let us prepare to celebrate this joyous Feast together. Let us come to know the joy and love of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My hope and my prayer is that your Great Lenten journey has been both blessed and spiritually edified. May the blessings of Our Risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be with you and your family at this most Holy and sacred time of the year and may your journey through Holy Week be a most blessed one. Kali Anastasi! Blessed Resurrection! Father Wilson Very Rev. Archimandrite Agathonikos M. Wilson (Father Mike) Cathedral Dean

2 PresiDent s MessAge Dear Fellow Parishioners, I hope you were able to come to church and greet our spiritual father Metropolitan Methodios on his visit on March 20th. It was nice to see him as he inspired us as we embark on the long Lenten period of our church calendar. Please check this bulletin for the many services the church provides to help us on our journey toward the Resurrection. I hope to see many of you take advantage of them, so please come to church be part of your community. As we have stated many times it is so much easier when we travel together, supporting each other as our Lord intended. Wednesday alternating lunch or dinner services, Friday Salutations, Saturday remembering those we have lost and Sunday Divine Liturgy, please come to church and bring the family. A reminder the Greek Independence Parade is next Sunday April 3rd we have a bus going along with Assumption Church so if you re interested please try and make it, I understand as with all the Boston parades it is a bit shorter this year. Why not try it out? I want to give a big shout out to our newest Basketball Champions the St. George 3rd & 4th grade team who won the city crown. They are coached by Lou Demos along with the able assistance of Michael Ferrari, they continue the long tradition of excellence we have here in our community of giving back to the next generation. Names like Statires, Plentzas, Tsipopoulos passed it on to Mokas, Timbas, Millios and Setas who in turn are passing the commitment to the next group of younger fathers & mothers to coach and supervise our youth of today. One of my earliest memories of St. George was being given a friendly 3rd degree by George Spiro when helping at a BB spaghetti dinner: who was I, who were my people, where did I come from. To him and all those no longer with us may their memories be eternal. This is what makes for a community of over 110 years and we know it s not just basketball but the generations of Sunday School teachers, generations of our beautiful choir, the youth choir, our GOYA program, serving on the Board of Directors, the Anagennesis Ladies Board, one of the many committees planning everything, the AHEPA Daughter of Penelope, NOA, the banquet coffee hour every Sunday, 50 years of Cadillac, the many years of Bingo, the scouting program, working the Glendi, now only 6 short months away. We at St. George have so much to remember, to be thankful for, to cherish, it falls to this generation to keep it going to be an active part of your community and its people, Orthodox Christians traveling on the same path with each other. 2 We know if we are in Holy Lent then Holy Week must be coming, a list is included in this bulletin with the many services so please plan on attending as many as possible the last week of April is fast approaching join with us at this most special time to prepare for the joyous Easter. I want to thank our office manager Joyce for the hundreds of Glendi letters already in the mail, my hand was tired with the signing, if you got one please respond if you need one see me, it is a challenge every year to generate the funds we need to operate, one final time at least for this month remember we are in this together. See you in church. Frank C.Comerford -President PrePAring for the PAssion of our LorD Great Lent is a time for self-examination and self-denial a time for taking control of our lives and our bodies. The purpose of the fast is to give us a greater awareness of our dependence on God. It is a time to improve ourselves and our relationship with God. The Lenten period is a time for greater works of mercy and charity for those less fortunate than us. It is a time for visitation of the sick and assistance to the poor, and generally a more joyful relationship with those who are close to us our family and friends. Most of all, Great Lent is a time of joy and a new beginning. We cleanse ourselves mind, body and soul through the physical and spiritual fast, keeping a Christian attitude in all that we do. All this is done to prepare us for the Great Feast of Pascha the Resurrection of Christ. Just as a stool needs all three of its legs to remain upright, our spiritual lives require us to practice all three of the Lenten priorities of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (charity) in order to be complete and balanced. Fasting is seen as a means to greater hope. Prayer is seen as a means to greater faith. Almsgiving is seen as a means to greater love. May our Lenten Journey be a most blessed one and may it be complete and balanced, experiencing all the joys of the three Lenten priorities; the joy of prayer (talking with God), the joy of fasting (imitating God), and the joy of giving (giving back to God).

3 easter flower DonAtions cub scouts St. George's Cub Scout Pack #92 was host for the Massabesic District Pinewood Derby for 2016! Cub Scouts from all over New Hampshire descended upon St. George and raced their Pinewood Derby cars! The event was fantastic! A special thank you to Athanasia Robinson and her team for helping us to make Loukomathes for fundraising help! If you would like to make a donation for our Easter flowers you can drop checks off in the main office or give to any Anagennesis Board member. Please make checks payable to Anagennesis. If you have any questions regarding Easter flowers you can reach Kelly O'Brien Hebert at: (603) or kobh@partnersrg.com. Thank you in advance for your generosity! saint george children s choir Our Children s Choir has already begun learning hymns, but it s not too late for you to join! We need you! We would like to see ALL children involved! All elementary and middle school students are encouraged to join! The time commitment is so small (11:45-12:00 right after church) but the reward will be so great! Our church needs to grow its future congregation and this is a wonderful way to have children be involved and grow in devotion! If you have any questions, please contact: Kate Boisvert at kateturgeon@yahoo.com Thank you! In other Scouting news...our Scouts continue to work towards their ranks in the new Cub Scout program. Our Arrow of Light scouts crossed over to Boy Scouts at our Blue and Gold event. We are gearing up for more outdoor adventures, and look forward to our Beautification Service Project to help make the Cathedral look beautiful for Holy Pascha! If you know of any boys in first through fifth grades, looking for outdoor fun and being part of our Cub Scout team, please reach out to Jason Cote, our Cubmaster, at or jcote1@gmail.com take up your cross AnD follow Me The young man was at the end of his rope. Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer. Lord, I can t go on, he said My cross is too heavy to bear. The Lord replied, My son, if you cannot bear its weight, just place your cross inside this room. Then open another door and pick out any cross you wish. The man was filled with relief. Thank you, Lord, he sighed, and did as he was told. As he looked around the room, he saw many different crosses, some so large the tops were not visible. Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a wall. I d like that one, Lord, he whispered. And the Lord replied, My son, that s the cross you came in with. APokreAtiko celebration thank you I would like to thank the Apokreatiko Committee for helping with the Apokreatiko Celebration. Without your help it wouldn t be the success that it is. A special thank you to John Stavropoulos and Steve Chakas, in the kitchen, Maria Dongas and John Nacos, at the bar, Poppy Tsoutsas, Dee Dee Tagalakis, Marilyn Motowylak, Tracy Terrio, and Fran Chiavaris. A special thank goes out to Joyce in the office for all her hard work and Dan for everything he does for the dance. With all my love and appreciation, Toula Barber, Chairperson 3 the shortest BiBLe Verse Did you know that the shortest Bible verse is John 11:35, quoted as 'Jesus Wept'. This verse will be heard in the Gospel read in the Divine Liturgy on the Saturday of Lazarus on Saturday, April 23, On this day the Gospel lesson is John 11:1-45. Jesus wept for His friend Lazarus, before He raised him from the dead, a pre-cursor of His own Death and Resurrection. Please join us after the Divine Liturgy for our Church / School / Community Communion Breakfast and to help us fold the Palm Crosses for Palm Sunday the next day.

4 AnAgennesis news cleaning of the church: Please join us on April 11th at 9:00 a.m. easter eggs: We will be accepting dyed Easter eggs from Holy Thursday through Holy Saturday. Palm sunday fish Dinner: Tickets need to be purchased ahead of time. Date: Sunday, April 24, 2016 Time: 12:00 p.m. Place: St. George Community Center Adult $13: Greek Salad, Broiled Haddock with Rice, and Dessert with Coffee. Child $7: Greek Salad, Ziti with Marinara Sauce, & Dessert kouloura (easter Bread): On Sale: $10.00 Palm Sunday Time: 11:30 p.m.--2:00 p.m. Contact: Tana Gustafson father s office hours Father s Office Hours Monday Wednesday Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Thursday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday By Appointment father s contact information Cell Phone: (603) revframwilson@yahoo.com DAughters of PeneLoPe ilios chapter 51 proudly invites you to an Awards Dinner in honor of AhePA family District nine Pericles Award 2015 recipient nicoletta Moutsioulis Please join us on: sunday, April 10, 2016 The Pappas Room- Puritan Backroom DW Highway, Manchester, NH Cocktails at 5pm Dinner at 5:30 Dinner choices: Baked Haddock / Baked Chicken Breast / Vegetable Lasagna Donation: $35.00 per person Please RSVP NO later than March 31, 2016 Maria Dongas Penny Vasilopoulos st. george Board of Directors V. Rev. Fr. Agathonikos M. Wilson Dean of the Cathedral Frank C. Comerford President John Stavropoulos 1st Vice President Philip Liakos 2nd Vice President Andrew Papanicolau Treasurer Timothy Giotas Secretary Steve Chakas George Copadis Kelly O'Brien Hebert George Kitsis William Macenas Cathy Moufarge Nicoletta Moutsioulis George Skaperdas Thomas Tsirimokos Theofilos Vougias Anagennesis Ladies society Board 2016 Cathy Moufarge President Kelly O Brien Hebert Vice President Kathy Dovas Jaskolka Secretary Carol Dionis Treasurer Dorothy Chakas Membership Diane Spiro LaRoche Sunshine Marga Bessette Jenny Dakos Angela Dion Tana Kilmer Gustafson Cindy Gatzoulis Klinefelter Diane Orr Veneta Tatakis Tracy Terrio 4

5 community news new Members Mr. Terry Samaras. Welcome to the family! Baptisms Emma and Bailey, parents are Todd & Kassandra Brady Congratulations! funerals Jay Glynn May his memory be eternal 22nD AnnuAL greek independence PArADe Sponsored by the Federation of Hellenic American Societies of New England. The parade will be on Sunday, April 3rd on Boylston St. in Boston, MA at 1:00 p.m. Please come and participate. The bus leaves from the Assumption Church at 11:30 a.m. Adults are $10.00 and children are free. For more information see George Kitsis. Attention high school seniors & college students Scholarship Packets are available in the Cathedral office. The office is open Monday Friday, 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. noa scholarships You can pick up applications at St. George Cathedral office. Please remember that they are due back no later than May 31, Please return completed applications to St. George Cathedral, 650 Hanover Street, Manchester NH cleaning of the church Will be Monday, April 11th at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome to help clean the Church. gregory PAPPAs MeMoriAL scholarship Attention High School seniors. Applications are available in the Cathedral office. the deadline is April 1, April 24 May 1 May 22 June 4 sunday school sunday school save the Dates! Palm Sunday, Spring break, No Class Easter, Easter Egg Hunt, No Class Last day of class, End of year program, Sunday School sponsored coffee hour Canobie Lake field trip (weather permitting) the AnnA theodosopoulos scholarship The Anna Theodosopoulos Scholarship is available to High School seniors and must be submitted by April 1. Applications can be picked up in the cathedral office. MeMoriAL DonAtions st. george greek orthodox cathedral Beautification fund in memory of: Eleni Apostolos $90.00 John Malatras $ the gregory Pappas Memorial scholarship fund in memory of: Mary Champion $ the greater Manchester hellenic scholarship fund in memory of: George & Evangeline Kachavos $ Ms. Natalie MacLeod generously donated $50.00 to the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Easter Fund in loving memory of Fr. & Mrs. Kosbashar. Mrs. Poppy Tsoutsas and Elias Moutsioulis generously donated $25.00 to St. George Cathedral Beautification Fund in loving memory of Kalifroni Moutsioulis. community contributions Mr. & Mrs. Paul O Brien generously donated $ to the St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral Vacation Church Camp. Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Hartofelis generously donated $ to the St. George Greek Orthodox Sunday School Fund. 5

6 holy Week: An explanation Great Lent and Holy Week are two separate fasts, and two separate celebrations. Great Lent ends on Friday of the fifth week (the day before Lazarus Saturday). Holy Week begins at sundown on Palm Sunday evening. The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday are two very special days, neither part of Great Lent nor of Holy Week, just very special days unto themselves, celebrated in joyous anticipation of Christ s own Resurrection in about a week. Lazarus saturday: Lazarus Saturday commemorates the raising of our Lord's friend Lazarus, who had been in the tomb four days. This act confirmed the universal resurrection from the dead that all of us will experience at our Lord's Second Coming. This miracle led many to faith, but it also led to the chief priest's and Pharisees' decision to kill Jesus (John 11:47-57). Palm sunday (The Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem): Our Lord enters Jerusalem and is proclaimed king - but in an earthly sense, as many people of His time were seeking a political Messiah. Our Lord is King, of course, but of a different type - the eternal King prophesied by Zechariah the Prophet. We use palms on this day to show that we too accept Jesus as the true King and Messiah of the Jews, Who we are willing to follow - even to the cross. holy Monday, tuesday and Wednesday: The first thing that must be said about these services, and most of the other services of Holy Week, is that they are "sung" in anticipation. Each service is rotated ahead twelve hours. The evening service, therefore, is actually the service of the next morning, while the morning services of Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday are actually the services of the coming evening. Understanding that, let's turn to the Services of Holy Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (celebrated Palm Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening). The services of these days are known as the Bridegroom or Nymphios Services. At the first service of Palm Sunday evening, the priest carries the icon of Christ the Bridegroom in procession, and we sing the "Hymn of the Bridegroom." We behold Christ as the Bridegroom of the Church, bearing the marks of His suffering, yet preparing a marriage Feast for us in God's Kingdom. Each of these Bridegroom services has a particular theme. On Holy Monday, the Blessed Joseph, the son of Jacob the Patriarch, is commemorated. Joseph is often seen as a Type of Christ. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, thrown into a pit, and sold into slavery by them. In the same way, our Lord was rejected, betrayed by His own, and sold into the slavery of death. The Gospel reading for the day is about the barren fig tree, which Christ cursed and withered because it bore no fruit. The fig tree is a parable of those who have heard God's word, but who fail to bear the fruit of obedience. Originally the withering of the fig tree was a testimony against those Jews who rejected God's word and His Messiah. However, it is also a warning to all people, in all times, of the importance of not only hearing the God's word, but putting it into action. The Parable of the Ten Virgins is read on Holy Tuesday. It tells the story of the five virgins who filled their lamps in preparation for receiving the bridegroom while the other five allowed their lamps to go out, and hence were shut out of the marriage feast. This parable is a warning that we must always be prepared to receive our Lord when He comes again. The theme of the day is reinforced by the expostelarion hymn we sing: "I see Thy Bridal Chamber adorned, O my Savior, but have no wedding garment that I may enter. O Giver of Light, enlighten the vesture of my soul, and save me." The theme of Holy Wednesday is repentance and forgiveness. We remember the sinful woman who anointed our Lord in anticipation of His death. Her repentance and love of Christ is the theme of the wonderful "Hymn of Kassiane" which is chanted on this night, reminding us one more time, before "it is too late," that we too may be forgiven if we repent. holy unction: The Mystery or Sacrament of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy Wednesday. Actually this service can be celebrated any time during the year, especially when one is ill. However, because of our need for forgiveness and spiritual healing, we offer this service during Holy Week for the remission of our sins. We should prepare for this service in a prayerful way, as we do for Holy Communion. great and holy thursday: On Holy Thursday we turn to the last events of our Lord and His Passion. Thursday morning begins with a Vesperal Divine Liturgy commemorating the Mystical Supper. As previously mentioned, this is actually Holy Thursday evening's service celebrated in the morning in anticipation. Everyone who is able should make an effort to receive Holy Communion at this service as it was at the Mystical Supper that our Lord instituted the Holy Eucharist. At this Liturgy a second Host is consecrated and kept in the 6

7 Tabernacle. It is from this Host that Holy Communion is distributed to the shut-ins and the sick throughout the coming year. Thursday evening actually begins the services of Great and Holy Friday. The service of the Twelve Passion Gospels commemorates the solemn time of our Lord's Crucifixion. After the reading of the fifth Gospel, the holy cross is carried around the church in procession, and Christ's body is nailed to the cross in the center of the church. great and holy friday: This is a day of strict fast. As little as possible should be eaten on this day. It is the only day in the entire year that no Divine Liturgy of any kind can be celebrated. In the morning we celebrate the Royal Hours. These solemn hours are observed as we read the various accounts and hymns concerning the crucifixion. In the afternoon we celebrate the Vesper service of the taking down of Christ's body from the cross. During the Gospel reading, our Lord's body is taken off the cross and wrapped in a new, white linen sheet. This act commemorates the removal of Christ's body from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-42). Later in the service, the Epitaphios, or windingsheet, with Christ's body on it is carried in procession and placed in the recently decorated tomb. In the evening the Lamentations service is sung. This service begins in a solemn manner, but by the end of the service we are already anticipating the Resurrection of our Lord. Remember again, that the Holy Friday evening Orthros is actually the first service of Holy Saturday, the day in which we commemorate our Lord's body resting in the tomb while His all-pure soul descends into Hades to free the faithful of the Old Covenant. great and holy saturday: This day is a day of hope and waiting. In the morning we celebrate a Vesperal Divine Liturgy which commemorates Christ's victory over death. Bright vestments are worn as we anticipate Christ's Resurrection. Laurel leaves are strewn throughout the church during the service, because in the ancient world laurel leaves were a sign of victory. As the leaves are strewn, the choir chants "Arise O God and Judge the earth, for to Thee belong all the nations." The Old Testament story of Jonah in the belly of the whale is read at this service because Jonah is seen in the Church as a Type of Christ. As Jonah was three days in the belly of the great fish, and was then safely deposited back onto land, so our Lord was three days in the tomb before His glorious Resurrection. The Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Holy Saturday concludes the services of Holy Week, and brings us to the eve of Great and Holy Pascha. called to Be saints.... saint george the great MArtyr AnD triumphant APriL 23 George, this truly great and glorious Martyr of Christ, was born of a father from Cappadocia and a mother from Palestine. Being a military tribune, or chiliarch (that is, a commander of a thousand troops), he was illustrious in battle and highly honored for his courage. When he learned that the Emperor Diocletian was preparing a persecution of the Christians, Saint George presented himself publicly before the Emperor and denounced him. When threats and promises could not move him from his steadfast confession, he was put to unheard of tortures, which he endured with great bravery, overcoming them by his faith and love towards Christ. By the wondrous signs that took place in his contest, he guided many to the knowledge of the truth, including Queen Alexandra, wife of the Emperor Diocletian, and he was finally beheaded in 296 in Nicomedia. His sacred remains were taken by his servant from Nicomedia to Palestine, to a town called Lydda, the homeland of his mother, and then were finally transferred to the church which was raised up in his name. If April 23 falls on or before Great and Holy Pascha, the Feast of St. George is translated to Bright Monday. 7

8 Michael & Donna Aboshar Arthur Adamakos Joanne Adamakos William Aivalikles Anastasia Ambargis Dick & Demetria Anagnost Panagiota Arfanakis Milton & Sally Argeriou William & Cheryl Athanas Christos & Alexandra Babis Christine Ballas Toula Barber Barbara Barbour Helen Benson George & Joy Bentas William & Susan Berry Diane Bobotas Peter & Kate Boisvert Richard & Georgiann Boisvert Keir & Joanne Bordner Arthur & Sandra Boujoukos Christopher & Angeliki Bourassa Todd & Kassandra Brady Fanny Canotas Vasiliki Canotas & Mark McCue Dorothy Chakas Steve Chakas William & Maria Chaloge Dean & Evangeline Christon William Christy Marie Clapsaddle Ronald & Marion Coble Pamela Colantuono Brian Comerford Frank & Alice Comerford George Copadis Nicholas Copadis Alice Crusade Maria Dakos Julia Damalas Sturgis Damalas Nancy Daskal John & Vasoulla Demos Vivi Pappas Desjardins George & Linda Dimakis Harry Dimos Robert & Angela Dion Nicholas & Artemis Donis Effie Dovas Jim & Stephanie Ferro Nancy Folis Adamantia Gatsas Michael Gatsas George & Olga Gatzoulis Robert T. George Alexander Georgeou Stephen & Brenda Gikas Aphrodite Giotas Timothy & Evangelia Giotas stewardship 2016 Evangelos & Grace Griburas Peter & Tana Gustafson Carmelo & Paraskevi Gines Guzzardi John & Kiki Harrington Nick & M. Louise Hart Nicholas & SeSun Hartofelis William & Joan Hughen John Ine Alice Ivos John & Kathyn Jaskolka Betty Kacavas Nola Kalantzis Demetrios & Angeliki Kanellos John & Barbara Karanasios Eva Karandanes Rigas & Maria Karoutsos Jennie Kiestlinger Peter & Elaine Kirakoutsos Andrea Kokolis Charles & Martha Kokkinos Ernest Kotekas William Kotekas Michael & Effie Koustas Katherine Koutroubas George Kriton Michael & Nina LaBonte George & Dafoula Lalopoulos Philip Liakos Stephen & Maureen Liakos Menelaos & Mary Lianos Alice Love Jeanne Lucas John & Marie MacArthur M. Kathryn MacPhee Pamela Manolakis Joyce Mantia Anthony & Karen Massahos James & Karen Massahos Margaret Mathios Harry Mehos Socrates & Evdoxia Merisotis Spiros & Maria Millios Katherine Mitchell Spiros & Sharon Mitsopoulos Soultana Mokas Marilyn Motowylak Ashley Moufarge-Bardwell Bess Mousseau Elias Moutsioulis Kosta & Nikki Moutsioulis John Nacos Leonidas & Georgia Nacos Effie M. Naum Julia D. Naum Paul & Joanna O Brien Michael & Elaine Oleniak William Pananos Costas & Mary Papachristos 8 Frank & Athanasia Papanicolau Arthur & Dawn Pappas Chris Pappas Paul Pappas Evangelos & Brenda Pervanas George Petrikas Philip & Sofia Plentzas Sophia Plentzas James & Hayley Potitis Evangelos & Pauline Poulos Giorgio & Denise Ricciardi James & Athanasia Robinson Christos & Jackie Samaras Demitrios & Christina Samaras Nicholas & Ann Samaras Terry Samaras Diana Seitz John & Maria Sinclair Christopher & Marina Skaperdas Leonard & Georgia Sousa Kostas & Tina Spanos Katherina Springer Andrew Statires James Statires James & Nita Stewart Eva Marie Stilkey Aphrodite Tagalakis Lisa Tagalakis Marc Tagalakis Dee Taris Andrea Tartsa Theodora Thanos Vasiliki Tolios George & Joyce Trapotsis Vasso Tsingos Thomas & Virginia Tsirimokos Hercules & Constance Tsirovakas Vasilios & Christos Tsourvakas Alexandra Tsoutsas Despina Tsoutsas George Tsoutsas Despina Tziros Peter & Ashley Tziros Anastasia Vailas Christos & Catherine Vasilopoulos Vasilios & Penny Vasilopoulos Christos Veziris Theofilos & Angela Vougias Vasilios & Christina Vougias Edward & Cynthia Wade Matthew Wade Gretchen Whitney Michael & Ellen Whitney Helen Wilcox Fr. Michael Wilson Arthur Zetes George & Ruth Zogopoulos

9 Joyful Giving Stewardship 2016 Pledge Form My Pledge to St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in 2016 (Please respond as soon as you can!) NAME SPOUSE (If Married) STREET CITY STATE ZIP HOME PHONE MOBILE PHONE ADDRESS ADDRESS of Spouse (If Married) DEPENDENT CHILDREN S names and birthdates: May we include your contact information in the parish directory? YES NO May we add you to our parish list? YES NO Indicate any information you would like excluded from parish directory: TREASURE In gratitude for God s blessings, I/we commit to Christ and His Church the following amount for 2016: $ I WILL FULFILL MY PLEDGE IN THIS MANNER: MONTHLY QUARTERLY YEARLY OTHER I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MY PLEDGE BILLED TO MY DEBIT / CREDIT CARD. (This is preferred in order to save fees) Card #: Exp. Date: CCV#: PLEASE BILL MY CARD: YEARLY QUARTERLY MONTHLY TIME & TALENT NAME: INDIVIDUAL STEWARDS should indicate areas of interest with a check mark. FAMILIES should mark H for HUSBAND, W for WIFE, or C for CHILDREN. EDUCATION Bible Study Adult Religious Education Intro to Orthodoxy Publications Speakers Library YOUTH Sunday School Teacher GOYA Little Lambs Hope/Joy Scouts Basketball Youth Choir BUILDING & GROUNDS Garden & Landscape Clean-up Interior Repairs Exterior Repairs Hall Rentals ADMINISTRATION Review / Audit By-Laws Office Help Computer / Technical Data Entry Board of Directors Anagenesis DEVELOPMENT / FUNDRAISING Glendi LITURGICAL Sanctuary & Altar Care Altar boys / Acolytes Baking Prosfora Choir Reader Greeter / Usher MINISTRIES & PROGRAMS Campus Ministry Welcome Team New Member Events 9 Outreach Stewardship Sunday Fellowship / Coffee Visitation Hospital Visitation Shut-ins Feed the Hungry Prison Ministry Grief Bereavement Group Disaster Relief Projects Blood Drives Project Mexico Int l Orth Christian Charities OCMC Mission Center Seniors Ministry Couples Ministry Singles Ministry Military Ministry COMMUNICATIONS Website & Bulletin & Newsletter Public Relations

10 WhAt is the MeAning of the cross? Many of us would claim that the Christian life is very difficult. We may find the commandments (such as forgiving, praying, being pure and chaste, and so on) hard to observe. But could it be that we say such things because we are looking at our Christian life wrongly? Might not the Cross show us how to look at our Christian walk more simply? What is the meaning of the Cross? There is no doubt for the Christian that we are saved through the Cross, that on the Cross Jesus trampled on death, and that because of the Cross Paradise has been opened to us. But why the Cross? Jesus explains its meaning by saying this: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) The ultimate explanation for the Cross is love. Without God's love for us there would be no Cross, and without the Cross we would never really know what love is. The Cross testifies to God's love, and explains the meaning of love. We see God's love in creation itself. If we ask, "why did God create us?" The answer is "out of His love." He created us knowing full well that making creatures in His own image and likeness would lead in a straight line to the Cross. If we ask, "why would the Son of God humble Himself by becoming one of us?" the answer is "because of His love for us," even though that love would have the highest possible price: the Cross. A real gift involves sacrifice. Love's greatest gift is the willingness to sacrifice even one's own life for the beloved. It becomes a joyous, if amazingly costly, gift, this sacrifice even of one's own life. God has just such a love for us, and this love has had only one possible destination: the Cross. The Lord said, "Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." What does this mean? It means that following Christ, taking up the cross, is the joyful path of love. It is not a sorrowful journey, but the life of the greatest joy imaginable, because it is the way of love. From the point of view of this sinful world, sacrifice and suffering are nothing but burdens to flee. But from the viewpoint of God's Kingdom, sufferings and sacrifices offered in the name of Christ are the flowerings of the crosses we have taken up. Our crosses are, indeed, difficult? but they exude the joyful fragrance given to us from the world to come. Is Christianity easy or difficult? It depends on how you look at it. From the perspective of this world, where even commitments to God must be shared with commitments to our own desires and fears, Christianity often seems like trying to climb an impossibly high mountain. But suppose we decide to throw away all caution, and we choose to submit wholeheartedly to God's will, and to love Him and those around us with all of our hearts. Would not the Christian path then be simple? The Cross is Lent's turning point. Will we love Christ above all? Will love for God be our joy? Will we love those who come our way? It is only in saying, "yes" to these questions that we will understand the Cross. Then, and only then, will we know the Resurrection, for only then will we have discovered the true power of God's love. Palm Sunday Fish Dinner April 24, 2016 Broiled Haddock in Special Sauce Greek Salad Rice Dessert and Coffee $13.00 Children s Meal Pasta with Marinara Sauce Greek Salad $7.00 Advance ticket sales only Please make checks out to Anagennesis Ladies Society 10

11 TO BENEFIT LOCAL SCHOOLS IN MANCHESTER St. George e Sunday School Spring 2016 Philanthropy Please bring school supplies to Sunday School or in the drop off box in the lobby of the community center. We will l be collecting new school supplies. s. In May we will put together back-to-school chool packages. 11

12 SAINT GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 650 HANOVER STREET MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit No Manchester, NH Return Service Requested Daughters of Penelope Ilios Chapter Will be sponsoring a Basket Raffle to benefit the Penelope Place Located in Brockton Massachusetts. l Raffles will take place on Palm Sunday April 24th, 2016 at St. Nicholas, The Assumption, and St. George Greek Orthodox churches of Manchester, NH Raffles will take place on Palm Sunday April 24th, 2016 at St. Nicholas Church, Assumption Church and St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Manchester, NH The proceeds will go directly to victims seeking shelter from Domestic Violence. It is a 24/7 center. In addition to being a warm and welcoming home, Penelope s Place provides comprehensive, coordinated care for survivors of violence and their children. They offer innovative, creative, and collaborative solutions to assist families in improving their health and well-being, breaking the cycles of violence, and ensuring their future stability. Penelope s Place shelter is a bright, warm, and inviting space for survivors and their children. In addition to state funding, Penelope s Place is supported by many local organizations, churches, and generous individuals. One of the largest supporters is the Daughters of Penelope, a worldwide Greek women s philanthropic organization, after whom the shelter was named. With their support, we have transformed a shelter into a welcoming home and have provided help, hope, and opportunity to hundreds of families and children who were struggling with the devastating effects of domestic violence. Thank you for your generosity Kalo Pascha!

13 April 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1. 3rd Salutation Service 7 pm. Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex. Salutations 2. National Honor Society Ball 6:30 11 p.m. in CC. 3. Orthros 9am. Div. Lit 10 am. Sun. Sch. 10 am. 40-Day Mem. for Jay Glynn & Coffee hr. 4. Compline Service 6 pm. Pre Sch. 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 pm. HS BB 7:30 9 pm in CC Presanctified Liturgy 11 am. followed by Lenten Potluck Luncheon & Lecture in CC. Cub Scout Mtg. 6 pm in CC. 7. HS BB 6-7:30 pm in CC. 8. 4th Salutations Service 7 pm. Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex Orthros 9 a.m. Div. Lit 10 am. Sun. Sch. 10 am. 1-yr Mem. for Cassie Balutus & Coffee hr. 11. Cleaning of Church 9 a.m. Compline Service 6 pm. Pre Sch. 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 pm in CC. BOD Mtg. 7 p.m. at Annex. HS BB 7:30 9 pm in CC Presanctified Liturgy 5:45 p.m. followed by Lenten Pot Luck Supper & Lecture in CC. 14. HS BB 6-7:30 p.m. in CC. Joint DOP/AHEPA mtg. 6:30 pm at Annex. 15. Akathist Hymn 7 pm. Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex. 16. Napli Event noon 12 am in CC. 17. Orthros 9 am. Div. Lit. 10 am. Sun. Sch. 10 am. 18. Compline Service 6 pm. Pre School 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 p.m. in CC Presanctified Liturgy 11 a.m followed by Lenten Pot Luck Luncheon and Lecture in CC. Cub Scout Mtg. 6 p.m. in CC. 21. HS BB 6-7:30 p.m. in CC. 22. Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex 23. Saturday of Lazarus Divine Litugy 10 am. Community Breakfast 24. Palm Sunday Orthros 9 a.m. Div. Lit. 10 am. No Sun. Sch. Followed by Palm Sunday Fish Dinner in CC. Bridegroom Service 7 pm. 25. Holy Monday Bridegoom Service 7 pm. 26. Holy Tuesday Bridegroom Service 7 pm. 27. Holy Wednesday Holy Unction Service 3 pm. Orthros of Thurs. 7 pm. 28. Holy Thursday Vesperal Divine Liturgy 6 a.m. 12 Gospel Reading 7 pm. 29. Holy Friday Royal Hr. 9 am. Taking down the Cross 3 pm. Lamentation Service 7 pm. 30. Holy Saturday Vesperal Divine Litugy 10 am. Canon Pascha 11:15 pm.

14 May 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1. Happy Pascha Vespers 11 am followed by Easter Egg Hunt. 2. Feast of St. George Orthros 9 am. Div. Lit. 10 am. Pre-Sch. 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Sch. 6-7:30 pm in CC Cub Scout Mtg. 6 pm in CC Feast of the Life Giving Fountain Div. Lit. 10 am. Girl Scout Mtg. 6-7:30 pm at Annex. 7. St. George Dance 7 11 pm in CC. 8. Day Orthros 9am. Div. Lit 10 am. Sun. Day Coffee Hr. in CC. 9. Pre Sch. 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 pm. BOD Mtg. 7 p.m. at Annex DOP Mtg. 6:30 p.m. at Annex. Cub Scout Mtg. 6 pm in CC Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex Orthros 9 a.m. Div. Lit 10 am. Sun. Sch. 10 am. 1st General Assembly after Coffee Hr. in CC. Baptism of George, son of Thanasi & Taylor Georgopoulos 1:30 pm. 16. Pre Sch. 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 pm in CC Cub Scout Mtg. 6 pm in CC Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex. 21. West High School Prom in CC. 22. Orthros 9 am. Div. Lit. 10 am. Last day of Sun. Sch. Sun. Sch. Sponsoring Coffee Hr. in CC. 23. Pre School 4:30 5:30 pm in CC. Adult Greek Class 6-7:30 p.m. in CC Cub Scout Mtg. 6 p.m. in CC Girl Scouts 6-7:30 pm at Annex Orthros 9 a.m. Div. Lit. 10 am. 1-yr Mem. For Kosta Kalantzis & Coffee Hr

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